
Bookending Autumn: Spicy Pumpkin Latte book tag
Good morning bookworms!
This post is part of Bookending Autumn 2019, which is organized by Sam & Clo! The prompt for today, “Spicy Pumpkin Latte book tag” is hosted by Me! (That sounds so weird…) If you want to do this prompt, please don’t forget to link back to this post!
Prompt Explanation: Autumn is when the beverage names at the local coffee shop start to look more like a harvest produce list than anything from a drinks menu. What better way to celebrate this oddity than to do an autumnal drinks book tag?!
Honestly, it’s just a normal book tag, but I (weirdly) did a LOT of research on what kinds of beverages are served overseas at this time!! (Starbucks just never took off in Australia. I can honestly say that I’ve only tried one of the below… and that’s the hot apple cider!!)
Rules:
- Link back to the original post (hint, it’s this one!)
- Thank the person who tagged you
- Do the prompts below
- Tag some friends
- Most importantly – have fun!
(I’m a Ravenclaw, ok? As if ‘rules’ wouldn’t be a thing!)
Pumpkin Spice Latte: A book you didn’t think you’d love
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. I honestly only read this because I was on holidays and was running out of ebooks. I genuinely thought I would hate it and that it would be ‘too young’ for me. (I’m not sure why but I assumed it was on the MG side of YA…)
However, I am DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY to be proven wrong with this. The family dynamics and the ‘fake dating’ trope were everything I never knew I wanted!!
Hot Apple Cider: A book that got you a bit hot under the collar
Welllllll, there’s been a few. The most surprising one was probably A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. I’m a big believer in the ‘no smut in YA’ books thought, so this was pretty surprising that it was in there. Also that it’s still listed as YA. (I would definitely put it in the New Adult category…)
Also, the whole cabin / chapter 55 thing. *fans self* However, they could probably take out 2 of every 3 ‘mate’s and I’d be happier. In Australia, mate is what we call ‘friend’… so it’s just weird (also ridiculously overused).
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: A book that felt like a warm hug
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – now, I know that I’ve barely spoken about this one since reading it. I’m in this weird headspace with this book where I actually can’t tell if I loved it completely and utterly because everyone is telling me that I had to, or if I genuinely did.
However, I can say that the story is lovely, and Alex’s mum is a great mum and knows where the president lines are, and where the mum lines are. Which I loved. Also, Alex and Henry are freaking adorable.
Maple Pecan Latte: A book you enjoyed that was hard to get into
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I started this book no less than 3 times before I actually read past 30 pages. (I’m starting to think this might be a trend for me…)
Anyway, when I did finally read it, I LOVED it so much!! The characters and the story were amazing, and the new take on the angels and demons trope was brilliant. It was my favourite book of 2017. 2016? It was a couple of years ago. I highly recommend it. I think I might want to do a reread?!
London Fog: A vanilla character
Erghhh… I know I’m only 1.25 books in, but Alina from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. (Don’t @ me. I don’t want to hear any more spoilers. I’m sure she’s amazing by the end.)
Anyway, the point that I’m at in the series, she’s so boring! And kind of annoying. Why is she waiting for Mal to rescue her all the time? Doesn’t she have immense power? I just want to shake her. Like, stop being pushed around and take a stand, lady!
Hot Buttered Rum: A book that was velvety smooth to read
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw was a lovely book to read. The writing style and the creepy atmosphere combined to make my reading experience of this one amazing, somewhat chilling and smooth.
I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a moderately creepy October / Halloween / ghost story. There’s even an element of mystery to it. But keep in mind the ending was a bit ‘sweet’ for me. I would have liked something a bit darker!!
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: A character whose temperament is icy cold
The Maestro!! From A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews. OMG. Talk about a villain that has no warmth. I mean, there’s cold, and then there’s cruel / sadistic / evil. And while it’s normally fairy tale villains who fall into the latter category, the Maestro certainly does look like she fits into this one.
I mean, that scene when Beck gets home and she’s teaching his sister piano? (I know it doesn’t sound that bad, but if you’ve read it, you’ll know.)
Salted Caramel Mocha: A book that you’re salty about
The book that I am FOREVER going to be the most salty about it Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling. I understand that this makes me petulant and annoying because I constantly harp on about how it wasn’t needed and how it destroyed Voldemort’s character of selfishly wanting to achieve immortality. Also that it ruins the whole timeline because how and or when was Bellatrix ever pregnant, but yet, here I am ranting on about it some more. Also, why was he cursed? Is being in Slytherin a curse now?
It was nice to see that Draco wasn’t a dick as an adult though. So, one redeeming factor, I guess.
Honey Bee Latte: A character who is sweet
Molly from The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli absolutely fits this bill for a sweet character (which is amazing, because this prompt spaced me for almost a week)!!
Molly is kind and lovely, but also kind of quiet and unwilling to rock the boat – which isn’t necessarily a good thing. I don’t want to get into a rant here (and maybe I should have written better prompts?) but sometimes I think society says that you can’t be sweet and strong, and go for what you want. Like being sweet is linked to being naïve and timid. Anyway, Molly is lovely and probably reminded me way too much of me at that age!
Gingerbread Latte: A character you’d take home for Christmas
I would 1,000,000% take home Gansey from Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys. Not because I love him, which I don’t, but because he’s far more agreeable than Ronan, and I feel like Gansey (who could sell ice to eskimos) would be able to pave the way for Ronan.
Also, he would evaluate the house and be able to insure before Ronan arrived in case anything untoward happened, such as the house exploding in a giant fireball or some demon monster flying over and trying to remove the roof.
Arthur Weasley would also be a strong contender, but for an entirely different reason. I mean, can you even imagine trying to explain ‘fairy lights’. Even though we don’t believe in fairies…
I hope you like this tag!!
(I’m not tagging anyone because I feel like that would be slightly narcissistic of me…)


50 Comments
Elysa
Maas refers to life partners as mates in her works? That’s weird.
For Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I thought the cursed child was Delphi.
Meeghan reads
She does!! The fae characters all call their partners ‘mates’… which fine, but maybe just do it slightly less!!
Also, agree about Delphi. She was definitely more cursed than the other two.
Kristina
Ah, I was waiting for this tag to go out !!
mmmh- you got me here, I need to do some thinking xd All was well until you asked for characters ahaha. Somehow I always forget EVERYTHING about them as soon as i’m asked ?
Although I work as a barista, some drinks I know very well; while others we have different names for it or don’t have at all. People mess up all the time by saying a Starbucks order… while we are a Second Cup. You’d be surprised how many people are sleepy enough to give us a Starbucks card! ahaha
Meeghan reads
OMG that’s hilarious!! Poor sleepy patrons!! It’s almost like you need a mouthful of coffee to figure out how to order / pay sometimes!!
Kristina
yeps. or even how to function, ahaha ?
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Clo @ Cuppa Clo
*wheezes* I totally agree with you on ACOMAF and the “mate” thing, I couldn’t take it seriously because of the amount of times “mate” was used and was snickering whilst also needing to be doused with holy water. As in the UK, at least in England we also use mate to refer to a friend *cackles*
Aaaaah To All The Boys I’ve Loved before is a great book, I still need to finish the trilogy though haha. Totally agree about the Maestro *sobs* Cait thoroughly broke me during ATPN and I still have TBWSH to read but I’m scared of getting broken again phahaha.
I have never had any of the drinks in this tag by the way Meeghan so you’re doing better than me even though you’ve only had one. Thank you so much for creating a wonderful tag and hosting <3
Meeghan reads
Nawwww!! Thanks Clo!! TBWSH is amazing and I love it!! I loved it more than ATPN!! You need to read it so we can scream into the abyss together!! ?
Also, *rolls on floor laughing at ACOMAF* I just couldn’t take it seriously. It was too much!! ??
Clo @ Cuppa Clo
I will soon!
Yep, that was me too. If she’d used mate like once or twice every few pages it’d not be as bad but erm…she went overboard. Also you could totally do a drinking game to “drink everytime you read the word “mate” in acomaf” and you’d be drunk pretty darn quick I think xD
Meeghan reads
I think you’d be hospitalised!! ???
Clo @ Cuppa Clo
Doctor: And how are you in this state?
Us: *hiccups* Well you…see…*giggles* mates…and fae…shots…*snorts*
Doctor: *looks concerned as we fall about laughing and trying not to throw up*
Meeghan reads
???
I am laughing so hard at this comment right now!!
Clo @ Cuppa Clo
You’re welcome phahaha
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dbsguidetothegalaxy
Red, White & Royal Blue is excellent and I will keep on yelling about to everyone who wants to hear! When I first read Daughter of Smoke and Bone; I finished it, sure, it just took me a long while to finish ? maybe I should listen to it as an audiobook this time around.
I read The Cursed Child in like under 2 hours and afterwards wished I took way longer to read, because it was a whole mess.
Lol yeah we also use ‘mate’ as a term for friend in SA. Like it’s just weird to see it to mean ‘life partner’ – I mean I’m sort of used to it in paranormal romance, but it’s still weird.
Meeghan reads
It’s SO WEIRD!! Like, I get that it’s also used for the animal kingdom, but that’s not even ‘life partner’, it’s basically just ‘sperm donor for reproduction’ and just… *shudders* whhhhyyyyyyyyy?! It made the book feel so awks!!
dbsguidetothegalaxy
I think writers just get used to seeing the word ‘mate’ a lot re animal kingdom – though you see it tons in pnr so maybe if they’re reading a lot of that, they tend to use it more. I still haven’t read the series haha but I know everyone’s feelings on this so it’ll be interesting to see what side I’m on.
Meeghan reads
Good luck when you do read it!! Also, there’s sexual content, torture, death, kidnapping… maybe some other things you should know (it’s been a while and I can’t remember all the content warning… but it’s definitely in the ‘adult’ end f YA)
dbsguidetothegalaxy
I’ve seen all those comments. Yet they still put it in the YA corner?? They should just hire bloggers to tell the what’s what and help them figure things out.
Meeghan reads
ABSOLUTELY!! I would set up bookstores so differently!!
dbsguidetothegalaxy
Same!
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Scherezade Ozwulo
Hello,
I happened upon your post through Coffee & Literary Rage and was quite intrigued by the title of the tag. Most of the flavors I’ve had (avid coffee drinker☕?) and fell in love with how you used them for questions. I’m working on my list now. I was actually going to do a post for a book review on my blog and this is an awesome way to do multiples.
?
Meeghan reads
I’m so glad you liked this!! It was a prompt I created for a month-long event called Book Ending Autumn where 10 hosts took it in turns to create new prompts and discussion topics that related to either Autumn or Halloween. The Bookending Winter event is on at the moment (Winter or holidays themed).
I hope you enjoy doing the tag (feel free to tag me in it so I can come see your choices!), and thank you again for such lovely feedback!! ??
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Charlotte
Ooh I totally want to reread Daughter Of Smoke And Bone sometime too. Plus I can relate to picking books up numerous times then loving them in the end. I’m hoping it happens when I try to read Enchantee again as I was desperate to read it but was kind of in a slump and couldn’t get sucked in, so I need to try it out again soon. I love what you said about Arthur Weasley at the end too ?
Meeghan reads
Thanks Charlotte!! I hope you enjoy Enchantee when you try it again!! ?
Charlotte
Thank you ❤️
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